Cochrane Db Syst Rev
-
Chronic deep venous incompetence (DVI) is a troublesome condition with a range of symptoms in the legs including recurrent ulcers, pain and swelling. It is caused by incompetent vein valves and/or the blockage of large-calibre leg veins. ⋯ The results of one small trial showed that ligation and LAP produced a moderate improvement for two years after surgery, in patients with mild to moderate DVI caused by primary valvular incompetence. However, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend the treatment to this subgroup of patients with DVI.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewZuclopenthixol decanoate for schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses.
There is a clear link between stopping antipsychotic medications and a relapse of psychotic symptoms. A series of long-acting intra-muscular preparations has been developed since the 1960s in the hope of reducing the frequency of relapse and, hence, overall disability. These depot preparations, active for weeks at a time, are frequently used for those who find taking oral medication on a regular basis difficult or unacceptable. It has, however, been a consistent concern that any reduction in relapse rate afforded by depot preparations may be offset by an increase in adverse effects such as drug-induced movement disorders. ⋯ Choice of which depot to use must always take into account clinical judgement and the preferences of the recipients of care and their carers. Limited trial data suggests, however, that there are real differences between zuclopenthixol decanoate and other depots and these differences largely favour the former. This review highlights the need for good controlled clinical trials to fully address the effects of zuclopenthixol decanoate for those with schizophrenia. Future studies should report service utilisation data, as well as satisfaction with care and economic outcomes. Duration of such trials should be of a longer duration than the included studies (12 months or more).
-
Social support may include advice or information, tangible assistance and emotional support. ⋯ Continuous support during labour from caregivers (nurses, midwives or lay people) appears to have a number of benefits for mothers and their babies and there do not appear to be any harmful effects.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewInterventions for deliberately altering blood pressure in acute stroke.
It is unclear whether hypertension should be treated after acute stroke, and some have hypothesised that blood pressure should be increased to improve cerebral perfusion. ⋯ There is not enough evidence to evaluate the effect of altering blood pressure after acute stroke. Although oral calcium channel blockers appear to reduce blood pressure following acute stroke, the balance of benefit and risk remains unclear.
-
In many settings, symphysis-fundal height measurement has replaced clinical assessment of fetal size by abdominal palpation because the latter has been reported to perform poorly. ⋯ There is not enough evidence to evaluate the use of symphysis-fundal height measurements during antenatal care.